What is AA?

Alcoholics Anonymous is an international fellowship of men and women who have had a drinking problem. It is nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and available almost anywhere. There are no age or education requirements. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about his or her drinking problem.

What Does AA Do?

  1. A.A. members share their experience with anyone seeking help with a drinking problem; they give per
    son-to-person service or “sponsorship” to the alcoholic coming to A.A. from any source.
  2. The A.A. program, set forth in our Twelve Steps, offers the alcoholic a way to develop a satisfying life with
    out alcohol.
  3. This program is discussed at A.A. group meetings.
    a. Open speaker meetings — open to alcoholics and nonalcoholics. (Attendance at an open A.A. meeting
    is the best way to learn what A.A. is, what it does, and what it does not do.) At speaker meetings, A.A.
    members “tell their stories.” They describe their experiences with alcohol, how they came to A.A., and
    how their lives have changed as a result of Alcoholics Anonymous.
    b. Open discussion meetings — one member speaks briefly about his or her drinking experience, and then
    leads a discussion on A.A. recovery or any drinking-related problem anyone brings up. (Closed meetings
    are for A.A.s or anyone who may have a drinking problem.)
    c. Closed discussion meetings — conducted just as open discussions are, but for alcoholics or prospective
    A.A.s only.
    d. Step meetings (usually closed) — discussion of one of the Twelve Steps.
    e. A.A. members also take meetings into correctional facilities and treatment settings.
    f. A.A. members may be asked to conduct the informational meetings about A.A. as a part of A.S.A.P.
    (Alcohol Safety Action Project) and D.W.I. (Driving While Intoxicated) programs. These meetings about
    A.A. are not regular A.A. group meetings.

What AA Does Not Do

A.A. does not:

  1. Furnish initial motivation for alcoholics to recover.
  2. Solicit members.
  3. Engage in or sponsor research.
  4. Keep attendance records or case histories.
  5. Join “councils” of social agencies (although A.A. members, groups and
    service offices frequently cooperate with them).
  6. Follow up or try to control its members.
  7. Make medical or psychological diagnoses or prognoses.
  8. Provide detox or nursing services, hospitalization, drugs, or any medical or psychiatric treatment.
  9. Offer religious services or host/sponsor retreats.
  10. Engage in education about alcohol.
  11. Provide housing, food, clothing, jobs, money, or any other welfare or social services.
  12. Provide domestic or vocational counseling.
  13. Accept any money for its services, or any contributions from non-A.A. sources.
  14. Provide letters of reference to parole boards, lawyers, court officials, social agencies, employers, etc.

Copyright AAWS, Inc.

The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Copyright AAWS, Inc.

The 12 Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous

1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.
2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority — a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
3. The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.
4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.
5. Each group has but one primary purpose — to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
6. An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
7. Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
9. A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

Copyright AAWS, Inc.

The AA Preamble 
“Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization, or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety.”
Copyright AA Grapevine Inc.

Responsibility Statement 
I am responsible…
When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to be there. And for that: I am responsible. 
Copyright AAWS, Inc. 

A Declaration of Unity 
We owe this to AA’s future: to place our common welfare first; to keep our Fellowship united. For on AA unity depend our lives, and the lives of those to come. 
Copyright AAWS, Inc.

Making a Start
You have made a decision…
“Yes, I’m one of those who is powerless over alcohol. My life is unmanageable.” You have discovered that alcohol is cunning, baffling, and powerful. To stop drinking, and stay stopped, the few simple principles of AA’s program can work for you as effectively as they have worked for countless others. 

One Day at a Time
We stay sober one day at a time, or if necessary, one hour (or less) at a time. We do our jobs, solve our problems, and clean up our past, just one item at a time. We conscientiously try to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of a Higher Power as we understand them. 

Meetings
There are meetings for every alcoholic who wants help. A meeting schedule with meetings in our area, published by the Tucson Area Intergroup, Inc. is available at the AA Central Office (1920 E. Spring St.) and at most group meetings. Our website, aatucson.org/meetings, has a more accurate and frequently updated list. 

Go to as many meetings as possible and don’t drink between meetings. You don’t have to speak at a meeting, but if you introduce yourself as a newcomer, people will get to know you sooner. 

Closed meetings marked (C) in the meeting schedule are for “anyone with a desire to stop drinking”.
Open meetings marked (O) in the meeting schedule are for “anyone with a desire to stop drinking” and “people without a drinking problem.

Service
Service starts in the Home Group, so you can straighten out chairs, wash cups, pick up cigarette butts, make coffee, etc. Depending on your group conscience you can start to chair meetings. Then you can begin expanding to service in the AA world.

Home Groups 
A home group, where you regularly attend meetings, offers the individual the support and encouragement each one of us needs to meet life’s daily challenges. Additional meetings provide the variety of people and ideas we need in our recovery.

Just as we are members of AA because we say so, we join a home group by declaring ourselves a member. It is at the home group that we do our early service to AA to start giving back what has been so freely given to us. 

Sponsorship 
A sponsor is a member of AA who, by working AA’s 12 Steps, has made progress in the recovery program and living sober. Listen carefully at the meetings; when you hear someone speak who has what you want, ask that person to sponsor you. AA experience teaches us that we have a better chance to stay sober with a sponsor than without one. You will probably find that your sponsor is vital to your recovery. 

Ask a lot of people for their numbers and use them. One-on-one sharing of our experience, strength, and hope with a sponsor and others is a cornerstone of AA recovery. It breaks the isolation. No one can solve your problems for you, but they can help you deal with them by using the principles of the AA program.

Traveling
AA is well established in this country and many other parts of the world. Utilize the AAWS Meeting Guide app while traveling, or even in your own town, to find meetings nearby. 

AA Literature

AA World Services
Alcoholics Anonymous – The “Big Book” is the primary text of our program and the chief source of discussion at meetings.
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions – The “12 & 12” is Bill W.’s version of our steps and traditions. 
Living Sober – Practical advice to the newcomer. 
Came to Believe – AA member’s experiences in developing a spiritual life. 
Daily Reflections – Daily meditations written by AA members for AA members. 
As Bill Sees It – Short selections from the writings of our co-founder Bill W. 
AA Comes of Age – The early history of our program. 

Grapevine 
“Our meeting in print” is a monthly magazine (published in NY) that carries stories of AA members’ experiences. Ask your group Grapevine Representative or Central Office for a subscription form. 

Tucson Area Intergroup, Inc. 
Quarterly Meeting Schedule – Small booklet of meetings scheduled in the Tucson area. Also available at aatucson.org/meetings
Just For Today – Monthly AA newsletter with stories, news, and information about local AA events. Subscribe for $12 a year or read for free at aatucson.org. Call or visit Central Office to subscribe. 

Pamphlets 
“This is AA”, “Is AA for You”, and “Questions and Answers on Sponsorship” are three excellent pamphlets for the beginner in AA. 

 Include the Family 
Alcoholism is a family illness. The average practicing alcoholic affects the lives of at least five other people. We find that the family can recover together.

The following are some AA activities you can share with your family:

Open AA Meetings – (O) Spouses, other family members, or interested friends are welcome at open meetings to hear AA speakers and meet other AA families. Non AA members are asked to participate by listening. 

Special Events – Special dinners, dances, picnics, holiday alcothons, and other social activities are sponsored by groups for AA members. Attending these activities can be both helpful and enjoyable. 

Al-Anon Family Groups: -There is a fellowship for family and friends of alcoholics (recovering or active) who are interested in recovery from the effects of alcoholism in their lives. 

You can reach Tucson Al-Anon at 

520-323-2229 or so-az-alanon.org